-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The U.N. Security Council signed off Thursday on a 12,600-member peacekeeping force in Mali that will be authorized `` to use all necessary means '' to protect civilians and cultural artifacts .

`` We know it 's going to be a fairly volatile environment , '' Herve Ladsous , the U.N. undersecretary for peacekeeping operations , said .

The resolution was proposed by France , which deployed about 4,000 troops to Mali in January to drive out Islamist militants who attempted to take control of the country .

The peacekeeping force -- known as the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali -- will take over July 1 and include some 6,000 troops from Chad and other West African nations already providing security in the country , according to the resolution adopted by the Security Council .

`` This is not an enforcement mission . This is not an anti-terrorist operation , '' Ladsous said .

Rather , he said , the mission will help Malian authorities restore constitutional order and governance . Elections there are set for July .

Islamic extremists with links to al Qaeda carved out a large portion of northern Mali last year , taking advantage of a chaotic situation after a military coup in March 2012 .

France took military action this year after the militants began to push into the southern portion of the country .

The militants banned music , smoking , drinking and watching sports on television , and destroyed historic tombs and shrines in the region . World leaders feared that militants would turn the area into a terrorist haven .

The Security Council resolution provides for a peacekeeping force for 12 months .

CNN 's Pierre Meilhan contributed to this report .

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A U.N. Security Council calls for peacekeepers to takeover in July

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The force will including 6,000 troops from Chad and other West African nations

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`` We know it 's going to be a fairly volatile environment , '' a U.N. official says